Preface

When entering this space, we invite you to review the emotional traces left by COVID-19 in our lives.

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This exhibition, "A Weaving Mess," delves into the impact of COVID-19 on global mental health and the intricate complexities of mental health inequality, with a focus on the role of gender in shaping different experiences. In recent years, discussions about gender have been growing louder, and we have gradually become aware that societal norms often impose gender traits on individuals, especially in the realms of marriage and family. Over these past three years, big data has shown that women may be more susceptible to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. This can be attributed to their social roles and responsibilities, including the pressures of caregiving and the gender inequalities they face. Overall, women seem to bear more stress, which raises another question: why is this the case?

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In this space, data is not just cold, hard numbers; instead, it carries thought-provoking stories behind it. Each data point represents an individual affected by COVID-19, and the fluctuations in the data reflect the real experiences of billions of souls worldwide. In this exhibition, we invite you to play the role of a detective, exploring whether you can interpret and reconstruct the stories behind these numbers through observation alone.

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Big data is just like tangled yet different threads of yarn. The exhibition weaves stories with data; in the yarn, we attempt to find the "emotion," explore its "emotion." Data visualization tells stories, and often, the absence of data can also reveal inequalities. Perhaps, through understanding and collectively sharing our past, we can better comprehend and elucidate the present. Or perhaps, as the audience, you can find your own voice within these numbers.

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(online data visualization exhibition, proudly created with Artist Jiale Zhu)